Bag making machine and method



Feb. 3, 1948,. A. w. RlcHENs BAG` MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan- 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 im a a Feb. 3, 1948. A. w. RICHENS BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m .mmllau U @im *a Feb, 1948. A. w. RlcHENs i 2,435,560

BAG MAKING MACHINE ANDl METHOD irri.

Feb. 3, 1948.

A. W. RICHENS BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jari. 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Nn .mmm

Feb. l3, 194s.

A. W. RICHENS BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Jan. 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Shoe?l 5" ,rur w Bieler/s Y 4 z5 A L v 'drrrf Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAG MAKING MACHINE AND METHOD tion of Canada Application January 29, i944, serial No. 520,163

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making bags and is particularly directed to the high speed manufacture of bags from a continuous web of thermoplastic or thermoplastic coated material.

Methods and apparatus for the manufacture of bags from a continuous web of thermoplastic or thermoplastic coated material having adhesive properties under the influence of heat and pressure are relatively well known in the art. In general, the methods and apparatus of the prior art involve the steps of advancing a strip of thermoplastic or thermoplastic coated material of indefinite length through a machine to form the material, in a sequence of mechanical operations, into bag sections from which the individual bags are cut.

In the manufacture of bags from thermoplastic or thermoplastic coated material, the strip is formed into bag sections by the application of heat. Under the sealing conditions, the strip tends to adhere to the sealer with the result that high speed production has not been possible. In order to overcome the tendency of the material to adhere to the sealer, it has been necessary to operate the machine at slow speeds or, alternatively, stop the movement of material through the machine during the interval the sealer isV in contact with the material, or to seal and cut in separate operations.

A further problem in such machines is that they are set up to produce a particular size bag and a change in the bag size cannot be made without extensive changes in various parts of the machine.

A still further` problem in the operation of bag making machines is that encountered in the manufacture of heat sealed bags from a strip of printed material which necessitates proper positioning of the strip in forming thebag sections and in cutting them from the strip. Where these operations are conducted in two separate stages, a localizing device, such as an electric eye, can be provided for positioning the strip. However, it is found that while the strip may be positioned correctly for forming the bag sections, it has been impossible to coordinate the spacing of the print-A ing on the strip with both the sealing and .cutting operations when separate units are used.

One of the primary features of the present invention resides in the novel arrangement of parts whichprovides a bag making machine capable of operating continuously at a very high speed to produce bags formed of thermoplastic or thermoplastic coated material of uniform quality.

rlhis feature involves, in general, making bags 2 from a continuous strip of heat sealable material'dvidable into bag sections and includes the steps of simultaneously transversely heat sealing and partially severing a bag section in a single 5 continuous operation, advancing the strip of partially severed bag sections from the heat sealing and partial severing operation, and completing the separation of the bag sections by engaging the leading. partially severed bag section and advancing it at a rate faster than that at which the strip is advanced through the sealing and cutting operation. and holding the next following bag section during the interval the leading bag section is being separated from the strip.

A further feature of the invention resides in the novelarrangement of parts whereby the size of the bags produced by the machine can be varied within relatively wide limits by easily and quickly executed adjustments in the speed of the feeding and conveying mechanisms.

This feature is attained by advancing the strip of material to the sealing and cutting operation at a faster speed than that at which the sealing and cutting operation is conducted, and

conveying the partially separated bag sections from the sealing and cutting operation at a speed approximately equal to that at which the strip is advanced to the sealing and cutting operation.

A still further feature of the invention resides inthe provision of a preheating arrangement to heat the strip of material to a temperature approaching but below that at which it would tend to become adhesive, whereby-the actual step of sealing the strip to form the bag sections is conducted with a minimum differential between the temperature of the strip and its sealing temperature to permit the high speed production of bags coated witha substance having a relatively high melting temperature.

An understanding of the manner in which the above and other features of the present invention are attained may be had from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a bag making machine incorporating the improvements of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the driving connections;

Figure 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the back end of the machine;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of an alter-` 56 native `modification showing two strips of heat sealable material being brought together in overlying relation;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of an arrangement for adjusting the position of the separating and holding elements relative to the position of a bag sectionv on ythe conveyor;

- Figure 7 is a top plan view of the 'arrangement illustrated in Figure 6; y

Figure 8 lis an enlarged end 'an arrangement forsealing the'bottm of the strip;

Figure 12 is a sideelevation 'ofthemodifcation illustrated in Figure 1'1; and

Figure 13 is a sidefelevaticri, siightiyinpespeetive of a bag formedw'iththesideand bottom seals. Y i

vLike reference characterswrefvfer to like parts throughout the specification v91nddrawings.

A preferred embo'diment'of a bagvmaking machine incorporating thejimprovements of the 'present invention comprises,- in general, a former for folding the web 'of material 'longitudinally;

Vfeed rolls for advancing' the stripl from the vsource of supply throughv the'formertoarotary'sealing and cutting unit vadaptedfto vdivide theistrip into vbag sections and topartiallyfseparate the bag sections from the'strip; a conveyor *for vreceiving the strip passed through thelse'aling and cutting unit and for discharging'thejbags fromithemachine; separating means f orengaging and snatching the leading bag 'section and holding means'for holding the next following'bagfsection during theinterval the leading bag section; is engaged by the separating means. Y A v H The machine incorporating these improvements comprises aframe I formed of horizontal and vertical members and having atop I I. A shaft I2 is journalled infb'earings mounted in the rearward extension I3 lof the frame. A roll of thermoplastic or thermoplastic coated bag material is carried on the shaft 1I2. A brake I5is provided on the shaft I2 to Aexert'a, slight resistance to its rotation and thereby'exert a' slight tension on the web of material to'ensure a uniform rate of feed from the roll. The brake I5 is of any suitable'standard design.-

Transversely disposed; freely rotatable' guide rolls I6 and II are journalled'in bearings mounted in a frame I8 at the rear'of the machineabove the rearward extension I 3.

A transverse bar I9 is journalled in the frame I8 above the upper guide roll I'I, tol which Vare secured the spaced. .apart Yends of thetriangular shaped former 20. Thearms-ofthe former, converge to terminate in a triangularyshaped, lhorizontally disposed former platewhich is supported, at its forward end.. by a verticalrod 2l which,

n in turn, is carried by ay member 22 extending forwardly from the frame I8. n y

A series of guide rolls 23 and 26 "and bars 24 and 25 are joined to' and extend vertically-upwardly from the top `II. YAltriangular shaped plate 2`I extends vertically upwardly from the elevation o'f the 1 i in front of that guide roll and to terminate approximate to a horizontally disposed guide roll 28.

The upper and lower feed rolls 29 and 30 respectively are located about midway of the length gof vthe machine. Theserclls are preferably coveredy with or formed of a material, such as rub- A ber, which will grip the web of material and draw `it from the roll I4, through the former and guide rolls without appreciable slippage. The surfaces cf the rollsw2landA 3 0 are in contact during their rotation -togripfthe Vmaterial firmly as'it passes ",btwenfthm. The rolls 29 and 3E) are mounted i on.

Y afthsy`2l9 p y, 30a respectively, which shafts are journalled in 'bearings carried in blocks extendinglupwardly from the sides of the frame.

top, extending angularly forwardly from a point slightly in the rear of the guide roll 26 to pass ,.pressure of the rolls 29 and 30 on the strip sing between them can be adjusted by adjustment Aof the adjusting screws I which bear on the upper bearing blocks.

Theiu'pper'andv lower'sealing and cutting rolls y3| and 32, comprising the rotary sealing and cut ting or perforating unit, are mounted on shafts 3| a and 32a located immediately in frontofthe feedrolls to receive-the strip vof material advanced'to them by the feed rolls.. The upper roll 3Ifis designed,"as illustrated in Figures l, 4

and 8 to include at least one sealing and cutting unit comprising a knife and one vor more narrow, spaced apart ridges or sealing bars 33 on each side of'the knife and parallel thereto. The knife and sealing'bars are raised slightly above the surface andextend across the length of the roll 3|, the edge of the knife being raised slightly above the level ofthe sealing bars. The knife and sealing bars are preferably raised suiiiciently abovethe surface of'the roll that when out cf contact with the strip there is sufficient clearance lto permit' the strip to pass between the surfaces 40l of the rolls without interference. As the rolls are heated, this spacing apart of the'surfaces of the rolls Vprevents contact with the strip of material except along the areas to be sealed. Dependent upon thel diameter of the roll 3| and the width of the bag to be formed, the roll'may be designedV fto'include only one sealing and cutting unit, or

-may be designed to include more than one such unit.

The knife 34 is characterized in that the edge is formed with'several small nicks or breaks 35'z in its surface spaced across its length. In passing betweenv the sealing and cutting rolls, the

strip is severed,.between the heat sealed areas along the transverse line contacted by the knife edge. The portions of the strip not contacted by' theknife edge, due to the nicks 35 in the edge. remain uncut and the bag section remains partially attached to the strip- The knife'edge may be designed to perforate the strip or to merely leave several uncut areas, sufficient that the bag section remains attached to the strip but easilyseparated in a later stage.

The lower roll 32 is a cylindrical roll and provides a cutting surface forthe knife edge 34. If 65` desired, of course, the position of the rolls 3I and 32vcan be reversed, but for accessibility it is preferred to haveA the rollcontaining the sealing and cutting unit or units uppermost.

An arrangement for, preventing the leading partially separated bag section from adhering to and becoming wound around the sealing and cutting unit'is illustrated 4in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, Sand 7 and l' comprises a conveyor" 38 which receives the lpartiallyseparated bag sections as they emerge from the sealing and cutting unit and advances them to a second conveyor system 39 on which each leading bag section, in sequence, is separated from the next following bag section and discharged from the machine. Alternatively, thestrip of partially severed bag sections may be conveyed from the sealing and cutting rolls and the individual bags discharged from the machine by means of a single conveyor system.

The conveyor system 38 comprises the upper and lower endless rotating tapes 40 and 4 I. The upper tapes 40, preferably two or more in number, are spaced apa-rt slightly and are extended over the pulleys 80, keyed to the driven shaft 8| which extends transversely of the frame at the rearward end of the conveyor, over the pulleys 85 keyed to the shaft 86 which extends transversely of the frame about midway of the length of the conveyor and above the level of the shaft 8|, and over the pulleys 82 mounted on the shaft 83 which extends transversely of the frame at the front of the conveyor. y

The lower tapes 4| are parallel to the tapes 40 and extend over the `pulleys ||0, I I2 and I |4 which are mounted respectively on shafts I I I, I3

`and |I'5 which extend transversely of the frame below shafts 8|, 80 and 83 respectively.

1 The opposing tapes 40 and 4| are spaced slightly apartso that they .only lightly engage the 'bag sections fed therebetween, The movement of the bag sections is a conveying movement as the tapes exert only a slight friction pull on partially separated bag sections suflicient to keep the strip taut but insufficient to cause any separation of the bag sections. 1

The upper and lower holding segments 42 and 43 are mounted on shafts |20|2| which extend transversely of the frame, preferably in a position between the shafts 86 and I I3. The segments are preferably in the form of corrugated rubber blocks, the surfaces of which contact each other for a predetermined interval during each revolution of the shafts |-I 2 I.

The conveyor system 3 9 is of similar design to that described hereinabove: the upper tapes extend over pulleys which are keyed to thev transverse shaft |3I, over the pulleys |32 which are mounted on the shaft |33, and over pulleys |34 which are keyed to the shaft |35. The lower tapes 45are extended over the driving pulleys |36 which are keyed to the shaft |31, over pulleys |38 which are mounted on the shaft |39, and over the pulleys |40 which are keyed to the shaft |4|, The upper and lower separating segments 46 and 41 are mounted on shafts |42 and |43 respectively which extend transversely of the frame preferably between the shafts |33 andl39. Like the holding segments, the separating segments are preferably in the form of corrugated rubber blocks, the opposing surfaces of which contact each other during each revolution of the shafts |42 and |43.

The feed rolls, the rotary sealing and cutting rolls, the A conveyors, the holding segments and the separating segments arevdriven from an electric motor 60 connected to the driveshaft 6| through the belt 62 and pulley B3. For convenience, the drive shaft 6I is an extensionof the shaft 32a on which the lower sealing and cutting roll is mounted.

` The upper heat sealing and cutting roll 3| is driven by the gear 19 which is keyed to an ex` tension of the shaft 3|a, which gear is meshed with a gear (not shown) keyed to the drive shaft @L nThegearratio of these gearsis 1:1 so that both shafts 3|a' and 32a are driven at the same speed.

The shaft 30a, upon which the lower feed roll is mounted, is driven through the gear 1 I, which is keyed to an extension of the shaft 30a through an adjustable idler gear 12 which, in turn, is meshed with a gear 13 which is keyed to an extension of the shaft 32a. The shaft 29a, upon which the upper feed roll is mounted, is driven through the gear 14 which is keyed to an extension of the shaft 29a and meshed with a gear (not shown) which is keyed to an extension of the shaft 30a at the end remote from the gear 1|. The ratio of these driving and driven gears is 1:1 whereby the upper and lower feed rolls are driven at the same speed. The speed of the feed rolls may be increased readily by changing the gear sizes, as shown in Figure 1, and adjusting the idler gear 12 to establish a driving connection between the gears 13 and 1|. In this way, the speed of the feed rolls isincreased without any change in the speed of the sealing and cutting rolls. Y

The upper tapes of the conveyor 38 are driven through a train of gears comprising a gear keyed to one end of the shaft 9| and meshed with an adjustable idler gear |50 which, in turn, is meshed with the gear 13 on shaft 32a A gear 92 is keyed to the other end of shaft 9| and is meshed with a gear 84 keyed to shaft 8|, The pulleys 82 and 85 are preferably freelyl rotatable on their respective shafts. The lower tapes of the lconveyor are driven through a gear |52 which is keyed to the shaft I and meshed with a gear |5| keyed to the shaft 8 The lower holding roll carrying the holding segments 43 i-s driven by a gear |53 keyed to the shaft |2| which is meshed with the adjustable idler gear |54 which, in turn, is meshed with the gear |52. The upper holding roll on which the holding segments 42k are mounted is driven by a gear 1-5 which is keyed to the shaft I20 and meshed with a gear (not shown) keyed to the shaft |2I.

The lower tapes of the conveyor 39 are driven through a train of gears comprising a gear |60 keyed to lshaft |43 on which the lower separating roll carrying the separating segments 41 is mounted. The gear |60 is meshed with an adjustable idler gear |6| which, in turn, is meshed 4with the gear 15. The shaft |31, to which the driving pulleys |36 are keyed, is driven by the gear |62 which is keyed to shaft |31 and which is meshed with an adjustable idler gear |33 which, in turn, is meshed with Ia gear |64 keyed to the shaft |43. The upper tapes 44 are driven by the gear |65 which is keyed to the shaft |3| and A manual arrangement is also provided for driving the various parts of the machine for use in advancing the material through the machine. This arrangement includes a handwheel 8| keyed to a sliding shaft 82 extending transversely of the frame and located at a position convenient to the operator. A worm or gear 83 is mounted on vthe shaft and may be meshed with one of the driving gears =of the machine when the machine is stopped. By engaging the gear 83, the mechanism can be driven manually by rotating the handwheel.

nthe .operation of tnemachine; the-.rolljof' andf'under the former 2D'which folds-'the strip longitudinally along .a line which may-be :coin-f cident'with or spaced apart from the longitudinal axis-'of the strip, depending upon whether the resulting bag is to be formed-.without or with a closing-lip.'`

From the former 20, the strip is passedvin atortuous path inf' front of and behind theV vertical guide-rolls and bars, betweenthe vertical guide roll 25. and the side of'theftriangular plate 21, thence over` the sloping edge of the plate ZI-,which converts the vertical movement of thestrip to the horizontal. It is lpreferred,tovprovideithe vupper edge of the triangular'plate 21 with afzbearing su1'face-.tordecrease theyres'istance to themovement of theis'tripatthat point.

The-strip is passed underthe horizontal guide roll 28; over the guide'roll 95, and between the feed rolls 29 and 30. In the normal operation of: the machine, these rolls engage the strip rmlyand draw-it from the roll |41and advance itabetween the sealingand cutting rolls 3| and 32.

The'v upper sealingl and cutting roll is provided with" at least oneof the heat sealing. and cutting ,units-f described in detail hereinbefore. If only one-unit is-provided, the strip is transversely heat sealed, preferably along several areas on each revolution of the roll.

Onleaving theV sealing s and cutting rolls, the bagsections, still partially attahedto the strip, areV received on the conveyor 38 'and advanced to the` conveyor 39. The conveyor` 38 is driven at a'fas'terrate of speed than the speed of the feed rolls. As the opposing tapes arespaced apart there is only a slight friction pulling effect and, consequently, there is no danger of the bag sections being separated fromthe'strip between this conveyor and the-sealing and cutting unit. The

bag sections' are passed to conveyor 39 -which is driven at the same speed as that of the preceding conveyor. As the leading bag section is received on conveyor 39 it is engaged bythev separating'` segments i6 and 41 which, in effect, snatch the bag section and cause it to separate from the next following bag section along the partially cut or perforated line of demarcation between them. At the same time that the 'leading bag section is engaged by the separatingmembers 46 and 4T, the next following bag section is engagedby the holding segments t2 and 43- which hold it rmly to prevent the pulling'eiect from being transmitted further along the strip. The separating and holding segments are preferably positioned such that the Separating segments engage the leading bag section approximate toy the rear sealed and partially severed lines whileY the holding segments engage the next following bag section approximate to its forwardsealed and partially severed lines. The separating and holding segments are preferably adjustable to maintain the'same relative position regardless o f the length of material between the sealed and partially severed lines.

The individual bags, after being separated in the manner described, are discharged fromA the machine by the conveyor 39.

In the normal operation of the machine, the seallngand cutting unit is driven at aA substantially constant speed at which the most satisfactory sealing result is obtained; The speed of the feed rolls, conveyor systems, and yseparating lll 81 segments ,can be increased readily by substituting,F drivinggears of diierent-diameterandfadjusting; theposition `of the idler gearsvto bring them'intoj mesh with their respectiveI drivingv anddrlven gears.

Assuming that-the feed rolls are. driven at the;` same speed as the sealing and cutting unit, they conveyor 38 is driven somewhat faster than thef feed rolls to'carry away the excess material which accumulates between the feed rolls and -thesea l. ingunit during the interval the sealing unit vis in; contact with the strip. For example,vvery satis-kV factory results are obtained if the conveyor 38I isgv driven at a speed from 20% to. 100% faster.. than the feed rolls, dependentupon the distance between seals. Also, the holding segments aref driven at a speed slightly less than that of the sealing and cutting rolls. The conveyor 3911s` driven at approximately the same speed asthatvl of` the vseparating segments 46 and 4`|f,vwliich'speedy is substantially faster than the speed of the sealingand cutting rolls.

Therholding segments and the separating. segments i, are spaced such that while the separating segments'engage the leading bag section, thenext, following bagsectionis held rmlyrby vthe' holding segments. Anarrangement for adjusting-'the position of the snatching aand holding elements relative to theposition of a bagsection on; the conveyor. is schematically illustrated in Figures 6fandi7 `in which the'shafts onwhich the snatch'- ingandholding elements are mountedarecarriedV by a frame |80. Theframe comprising two spaced apart plates may be mounted. at the front endv of the frame I0 in such a manner as to be movabletowards. or away from the sealing and partial cutting unit, so that thesnatching and holding elements may be positioned such that' they straddlepthe seal and partially. severedlines separating the leading bag section fromthe nextfollowing bag section. In this latter modification only a single conveyor system would be necessary.

In the modicationof the inventionillustratedin. Figure 8, the feed rolls are driven at a faster rate of speed than that of the sealing and cut-l ting unit whereby the strip of materialbetweenl the feed rolls and the sealing and cutting'unit is caused to buckle during the interval the'sealing and cutting unit is in Contact with the material.' When the sealing and cutting unit is out of conf# tact with the material the strip is conveyed fol"- wardly between the slightly spaced apart surfaces of the rolls 3| and 32, thereby maintaining the rate of movement of the strip the" same 'as that provided by the feed rolls to maintain unl'-y formity in the spacing of the sealing and cutting operation. In this embodiment, the relative speed of the conveyors 39 and 39 and associated 'parts to that of the feed rolls remains the same, that is, the conveyor is driven at a speed, preferably from about 25% to 100% faster than that of the feed rolls, whereby the partiallyl separated bag, sections emerging from the sealing and cuttingg unitr are` conveyedY away from that unit` at the same rate as that at which it is passed through` the sealing` andcutting rolls.

In order to accommodate the greaterdistance between the seals of the bags formed in thisembodjment, the separating and holding elements may be moved to aposition such that they straddle the heat sealed and partially severed linesA between the leading Aand next following bag sec' tions;4

As a1 further modification of the'iinvetiomit is found that the provision of an arrangement" for preheating the strip of material to a temperature above its normal temperature but below that at which the material would tend to become adhesive enables certain types of material to be fed through the sealing and cutting roll at a much greater speed than would be possible otherwise For example, should a coating become adhesive at 350 F., it could be safely preheated to a temperature below that at which it becomes adhesive, such as at about 300 F., which decreases the differential between the tempera.- ture of the strip and its sealing temperature and makes possible effective sealing on rotation of the sealing and cutting unit at speeds which otherwise would be impossible to realize. The incorporation of such a preheating arrangement is exemplied in Figure 2 by the provision of a freely rotatable, heated vcylinder 93, which is mounted on the transverse shaft 94, over which. the strip is passed before it is passed to the sealing and cutting unit. The cylinder 93 is heated, such as electrically or by steam, to a temperature such that the lstrip passing over it is heated to a desired temperature below that at which it would tend to become adhesive, at approximately which temperature it is passed to the sealing and cutting rolls. As a result of this preheating arrangement, it is only necessary for the sealing unit to be in contact with the strip long enough to heat the areas from say 300 F. to 350 F. instead of from about 70 F. to 350 F. which would otherwise be necessary. The provision of this preheating arrangement is particularly effective for the high speed production of bags from heat scalable material which becomes plastic only at relatively high temperatures.

As an alternative preheating arrangement, the strip of material may be passed through a heating chamber, which, in combination with the preheating roll 93, quickly preheats the material to the desired temperature.

A further arrangement is provided for sealing the bottom of each bag section if such a seal is deemed advantageous in the design of the bag. This sealing arrangement is illustrated in Figure 12 wherein the strip is passed between sealing rolls 95 and 95, each roll being provided with a heated sealing section 95a and Sd-between which the strip is passed and which bear against the bottom of the strip. The rolls 95 and 96 are preferably adjustable to bring the desired degree of pressure to bear on the strip.

The improvements constituting the present invention are also applicable to the manufacture of bags formed by bringing two strips of heat scalable material together in overlying relationship as illustrated-in Figure 10. In this modi-` iication, two strips of material and IH are drawn from their respective feed rolls i12 and U13 passed through sealers |14 which seal the longitudinal edges of the strips to form a sealed tube-like strip dividable into bag sections. lThis strip is advanced through feed rolls and' sealing and cutting unit in the manner described hereinabove with the exception that one set of sealing bars is eliminated to form an open end The manner in which the individualbags are separated from the strip is of primary importance in the high speed production. It is found that if the bags are completely severed in the cutting operation, they tend to adhere to the sealing roll which disrupts the operation of the machine. By only partially cutting the bag sections and passing the bags as a strip of partially separated bag sections from the sealing and cutting operation to be completely separated away from the sealing and cutting unit, this dirliculty is avoided and the high speed operation of the machine is made possible.

It is found also, that while the depth of the bag is only limited by the length of the various operating rolls and can be varied by changingthe width of the strip of material advanced through the machine within the limits of the rolls, the distance between the seals in the bags can be increased readily by increasing the relative speeds of the feed rolls, conveyor systems and associated parts while maintaining the speedV of the heating and cutting rollsrand holding elements constant. As a result, the machine is readily adjusted to make different sizes of bags without any appreciable-delays. This also is made possible by advancing the bags from the sealing and cutting unit as a strip of partially separated bag sections which are engaged by the conveyor and drawn from the sealing and cutting unit as fast as the stripof material is passed through that unit. I

A machine incorporating the improvements of the present invention is capable of producing bags at a very high rate of production limited only by the sealing properties of the material. As a specic embodiment, assuming a production rate of 30,000 bags per hour with a two stage sealing and cutting unit, the sealing and cutting rolls are driven at a speedof 250 R. F. M., the feed rolls may be` driven atA the same rate of speed, or faster if it is desired to increasethe distance vbetween the seals and the conveyor system is driven at a speed of from 20% to 100% faster than the feed rolls. The holding segments are driven at a slightly slower speed than the sealer to avoid any pulling effect on the strip ofv partially severed bag sections between those elements and the sealer and the separating or snatching elements are driven appreciably faster than the holding elements to ensure a snatching effect on the leading bag section.

It will be understood, of course, that modications of the preferredembodiment of the invention described and illustrated herein, may be madeby others skilled in the art in the light of the teachings herein without departing from the scope -of the invention as defined by the appended type bag. No former or folding arrangement is 1 necessary in this modification.

Itis found by the incorporation of the improvements of the present invention inv machines for making bags of thermoplastic or thermoplastic coated materials, that bags of a uniform quality are produced at a rate of production herelQQlfe considered impossible to realize.

claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A method for making bags from a continuous strip of heat scalable material which cem-y prises fclding the strip longitudinally, advancing the folded strip from the folding step to a sealing and cutting operation at a speed faster than the speed of the sealing and cutting operation, transversely heat sealing the strip to divide it into bag sections and simultaneously partially separating the bag sections in the cutting operation, advancing the partially separated bag sec-V tion-s at a speed not greater than that at which the strip is advanced to the sealing and cutting operation, separating the leading bag section Vfrom `Vthe strip of bag sections by engaging it ing and cutting' means transversely disposed' in: relation to the movementI ofithe. fold'e'd'strip for:

transversely heat sealing and partially*cutting4 the strip at predetermined: intervals .to' formV bag sections partially attached to the strip, means;l

for advancing thel strip of 'partially severd' bag sections from theesealing and cutting means atv asspeed not greater than that at which the'strip'- is'- advanced? to the sealing and cutting means; and separating means rotatable at a faster speed than said sealingand cutting roll for engaging rthev leading, partially severed bag section and for' advancing it at a faster rate than the rate at ting means, simultaneously,v adapted to form `the strip: into:- bag:l sect-ions4 and to partially separateeach bag section from the strip, conveyor means adapted tov advance the partially. separatedA strip of-4 bag: sections at aspeed not greater than thespeedzat which` thestrip is advanced through; said'xrotary sealing andeutting means, means -for gripping the` leading. partially separated rbag' sectionandi for advancing it at a speed greater. than Ithe speed of said strip, and means for holdingy which the stripv isv advanced" through the rotaryv sealing and cutting means, and means fori holdi-VV ingthe nextfollowingbag section during the interval the leading bag section is'v engaged bysaid': separating means.

3. A machine vfor* making bags from a strip of.'

lieat'sealable material whichx comprises, in .com-- bination, a former for folding the stripl longi tudinally, a heated cylinder for*preheatingthev strip, feed rolls for advancingtlie strip Aoffmateria] through thefmachine, combined'rotary'seal'- ing and cutting meansl transversely disposed-in relation tothe movement of ltliefdliierl' strip for transversely heat sealing and partially-l cuttingl the stripl at predetermined intervals to; formfbag sections partia-llyfattached tothe strip, and"sep arating means rotatable at a fasterspeedthan saidl'sealing'and cutting'roll for engaging theing" the next following bag-sectionl during the interval' the leading bag section i'sengaged-by saldi separating means.

4. A machine for making bags from a strip of heatV sealable material dividable'- into bag sections, which comprises means foi` advancing-the* strip through the machineto rotary sealing and cutting means transversely disposed" with relation to the movement of the strip-for sealing and par--v tially'cutting the strip transverselyatl predetermined' intervals to form bag sections partially attached to the strip, the rate of' movement of` saidl strip to said rotary sealing and cuttingl means being faster than the speed of said rotary sealing and cutting means, and 'means for engaging the strip leaving therotary sealing' and cutting means and for advancing it at a speed not greater than' the speed at which' thestrip is'vadvanced to the rotary sealing and cutting means, and means for engaging the leading bag sectionand for advancing it 'at a speed greater than that' ofthe strip of partially severed bag sectionaand means for holding `the nextv followingb'ag section during the interval the. leading bag-1 section is engaged and advanced at' the faster speed.

5`.In'combination with a machine for making bags from a continuous strip of heat scalable material dividable 'into bag sections; means for feeding the stripto rotary heatsealing and rcutthe next following bag. section during ,the-interval' said vengaging means are: in'` engagement withthe leading bag section;

6. `In .a machinevfor'making bags from a con.- tinuous'stripof heat scalable lmaterial; the combination lof driven feed` rolls; a combined rotaryheat sealing and cutting unit for forming and partially severing a bag section in a continuous strip of' heat scalable material, a conveyorfmovable at a speed at least as fast as that of thestrip-of bag sections emerging from the rotaryV sealing .and cutting unit, gripping means foren-v gaging.` the leading` incompletely'lseparated bag-- section andfor burstingl itfrom-L the nextV follow. ing ybag-section,l andholding-means synchronized` Withsaid gripping means forrengaging the-following bag. section during -the intervalv the leading; bag; section is,` engaged bythe vrstv mentioned gripping means.

7. In a: machine formakingbags from a con--v tinucus; strip of heat' sealable material, thek combination oi' driven feed. rolls, a rotary heat seal-g ing and cutting unitv for forming andV partially: severing bagy sections,l aconveyor movable atl a speed at least as: fast as-that. of; the stripe.- emerging from the; rotary sealing and; cutting. unit, gripping means-.adaptedtofengage the leading bag section andto snatchfit; from'I the; next following. bag section, and holding-,means syn. chronized with said; gripping means; adapted :toA engage; and hold. theA next,` following bag section during the interval the leading bagsectionisgengaged by thel rst mentioned gripping means, saidf gripping and-holding means; being'positioned towstraddle. the heat sealedyandpartially severed; lines between the leading and next following vbag sections.

8'.' In a machine for making bags from av strip of' heat; sealable material dividable into bag; sections, the combinationA of a heat sealing and cutting unit adapted tofform bag sections partially` attached to said strip of heat scalable rInaterial and transversely disposed with relation to thel movement of the strip of material fed thereto', conveyor meansk adapted to advancethe strip of partially severedv bag-sections from the heat sealing' and cutting unit, conveyormeans.` for advancing the strip of partially severed bag sections to snatching means adapted to engage. theleading partially attachedv bagsectionI dischargedfromfthe sealing unit and burst it, vfrom thernext following bag section, and: gripping` means adapted to engage;f andnold; the next fol; lowingg'bag section duringthe intervalthe lead-. ing;l bag section is engaged byV said snatching means.

9. A method for making; bags: fron-ra continue. ous: strip of heat scalable v material dividable into; bag sections which comprises the; steps yoi pre.: heating the strip to a temperature below the adhesiveA temperature. oil the material, simula taneously transversely heat sealing and partially severing a bag section in a single continuous operation, advancingy the stripk ofv partially sevcred bag sections from the heatl sealingandfpartial severing operation, and completing the separation of the bag sections by engaging the leading partially severed bag section and advancing it at a rate faster than that at which the strip is advanced through the sealing and cutting operation, and holding the next following bag section during the interval the leading bag section is being separated from the strip.

10. In a machine for making bags from a continuous strip of heat scalable material dividable into bag sections, means for simultaneously transversely heat sealing and partially severing a bag section from the strip, means for advancing the strip of bag sections as a continuous strip from the sealing and partial cutting means, means for engaging the leading incompletely separated bag section and for advancing it at a rate faster than the rate of advancement of the strip through the sealing and partial separating means, and means for engaging the next following bag section during the interval the lead ing bag section is engaged and advanced.

11. In a machine for making bags from a continuous strip of heat scalable material dividable into bag sections, means for forming a strip of double thickness, means for preheating the strip to a temperature below the temperature at which the material tends to become adhesive, means for simultaneously transversely heat sealing and partially severing a bag section from the strip, means for advancing the strip of partially severed bag sections from the sealing and partial severing means, means for engaging the leading, incompletely separated bag section and for advancing it at a rate faster than the rate of advancement of the strip through' the sealing and partial separating means, and means for holding the next following bag section during the interval the leading bag section is engaged by said engaging means.

12. A machine for making bags from a continuous strip of heat scalable material which comprises means for folding the strip longitudinally, means for advancing the strip from a. source of supply through said folding means to means for simultaneously transversely heat sealing the folded strip to form bag sections and for partially separating the bag sections from the folded strip whereby a bag section is formed at the end of and partially attached to the strip, means for advancing the strip of partially sep-l arated bag sections as a continuous strip to means for engaging the leading bag section and for advancing it at a faster rate than that at which the strip is advanced through the sealing and partial separating means, and means for holding the next following bag section during the interval the leading bag section is engaged by said engaging means.

13. A machine for making bags from a strip of heat scalable material which comprises means for folding the strip longitudinally, means for advancing the strip from the source of supply to rotary sealing and cutting means transversely disposed in relation to the movement of the strip, said sealing and cutting means being adapted for high speed rotation and effective for transversely heat sealing and partially cutting said strip at predetermined intervals whereby a bag section is formed and partially separated from the strip passing through said sealing and cutting means, means for advancing the strip of partially separated bag sections as a continuous strip to means for engaging the leading bag section and advancing it at a faster rate than that at which the strip is being advanced through the sealing and partial cutting means, and means for holding the next following bag section during the interval the leading bag section is engaged by said engaging means.

ARTHUR W. RICI-IENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,126,908 Moore Aug. 16, 1938 2,147,757 Schneider Feb. 21, 1939 2,157,054 Gammeter May 2, 1939 2,191,497 Potdevin Feb. 27, 1940 2,248,471 Stroop July 8, 1941 2,265,075 Knuetter Dec. 2, 1941 2,301,771 Billeb Nov. 10, 1942 2,344,720 OConnell Mar. 21, 1944 2,347,439 Shea et al, Apr. 25, 1944 

